When Fourth Master returned, Lanqin had just woken up from her midday nap.
"Master, according to news from the front yard, the master has returned and should be sobering up there right now!" said Cui Niang.
"Hmm. Is Hongli awake?" Lanqin is now focused on raising her two daughters and one son. It has to be admitted that, apart from the Fourth Prince, these three children are the most important thing in Lanqin's life during this era of queues.
"The Sixth Prince is still asleep. I just went over and asked him, and Nianxue said he's still asleep," said Cui Niang.
"Tell Shui Ling to tell Nian Xue not to sleep too much. She should get up when it's time!" Lan Qin threw off the quilt and put her pair of delicate white feet into the embroidered shoes on the footrest.
Xi Cha and Si Hua immediately shook out the quilts and helped Lan Qin change her clothes.
"Yes, this servant will go right away," Cui Niang replied.
After getting dressed, Si Hua asked, "Master, I just learned a new hairstyle. Why don't you try it on?"
Lanqin glanced at the dim light outside the paper window and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll leave my head to you anyway."
"Master!" Si Hua was amused by Lan Qin's charming tone.
"Let me see that set of violet jewelry that Master Jiang just brought!" Lanqin suddenly remembered the box of violet jewelry that Fourth Master had sent over yesterday.
"Yes!" Si Hua is now in charge of Lan Qin's jewelry, just like Xi Cha is in charge of Lan Qin's clothes. She knows better than Lan Qin herself where the jewelry and clothes are kept.
Lanqin smiled gently, waiting for the box of violet jade that Fourth Master would send over.
"Master, look, this set of purple jade is truly beautiful." Si Hua presented the box to Lan Qin.
Inside, all the jewelry was made of purple jade: two jade bracelets, three jade hairpins of various styles, and some pearl and tortoiseshell ornaments made of purple jade. The jade bracelets and hairpins were the main material of that piece of purple jade, while the pearl ornaments and some teardrop-shaped earrings were made from scraps. Purple jade is not considered the most precious among jadeite, but it is rare.
“This set of jewelry goes perfectly with Master’s moon-white qipao with yellow pear blossoms,” Si Hua said.
"Hmm, didn't you say you were going to give me a unique hairstyle?" Lanqin picked up a violet jade bracelet and held it up to her ears.
"Yes, I'll comb it right away." Si Hua hurriedly began to comb Lan Qin's hair. She knew that Lan Qin had never liked wearing large and heavy headdresses, so she specially created several unusual hairstyles for Lan Qin.
Lanqin slipped the purple jade bracelet onto her wrist, and it fit her wrist perfectly. It seemed that Fourth Master had taken her size to have it custom-made, otherwise it wouldn't fit so well.
Before long, Lanqin looked up at herself in the bronze mirror. It turned out that Sihua had styled her hair into a fan shape. She used a fan-shaped flat piece as a support, wrapped all the hair on top of the flat piece around it, and styled the hair at the back into a swallowtail.
"This hairstyle is nice, quite delicate. Just a few hairpins will do." Lanqin immediately thought the hairstyle looked good.
"Hmm, let's wear this purple jade hairpin. Why don't we wear the whole set?" Si Hua said with a smile.
"Hmm, you little rascal, are you so eager to help me win him over?" Lanqin glanced at Sihua and said.
"My lady, I just think your hair suits this set of jewelry!" Si Hua said, blushing.
If the Fourth Master doesn't come for a few days, these maids are even more anxious than Lanqin, and they all wish they could adorn her with flowers.
"Okay, wear it. These things are meant to be worn anyway," Lanqin said, trying to comfort Sihua when she saw her getting anxious.
After Si Hua finished tidying up Lan Qin, she was dressed in a moon-white cheongsam with a fan-shaped headdress, two purple hairpins on each side, and a camellia flower with a purple jade stamen in the middle.
"Master, the master has arrived!" Cui Niang came in again to report.
Lanqin turned around and saw Fourth Master's long legs stride in. Cui Niang and the other maids immediately bowed and retreated until they disappeared into the corner of the room as if they were invisible.
The Fourth Prince was stunned for a moment when he saw Lanqin, because she was just too beautiful.
"Master, how is it? Does Si Hua's new hairstyle for me look good?" Lan Qin felt a sweet warmth in her heart when she saw that the Fourth Master's eyes were glazed over for a moment.
"Beautiful! I'd like to have a set of jewelry made from this piece of purple jade for you." Fourth Master said as he walked up to Lanqin.
"How much did you drink at Prince Heshuo's place? Do you still have a headache?" Lanqin's heart fluttered, and she reached out to straighten the Fourth Master's collar.
"You feel much better after drinking the hangover soup! By the way, I was too busy during the New Year period. How come I heard that you were punished by your mother to copy scriptures?" Fourth Master asked, holding Lanqin's little hand.
"Why did you suddenly ask about this, Master?" Lanqin asked, her eyelids twitching. She had instructed Cui Niang and the others not to reveal this matter to the Fourth Master.
"It was overheard by Lady Wuya. Even she knows, why didn't you tell the Prince?" The Fourth Prince had also been summoned by Consort De and was specifically told about Lady Wuya. After being treated by the imperial physicians in the palace, her menstrual problems were almost cured.
The Fourth Prince would occasionally visit her. The Nian, Wu, Song, and Geng families would also visit occasionally, presumably to maintain harmony within the household. Lanqin didn't mind; when the Fourth Prince wasn't visiting, her time was devoted to her three children.
"Oh! Why would Princess Wuya mention me?" Lanqin asked calmly. Since Wuya returned, and because of Consort De, the Fourth Prince had elevated her status!
"It wasn't said on purpose, Master overheard her maid talking about it by chance!" Fourth Master said, "What's the reason? Mother never makes things difficult for anyone?"
Yes, Consort De, who never makes things difficult for anyone, punished me! It must be my fault! Could it be that Lanqin is going to tell the Fourth Prince that it's because I'm too favored, and Consort De is worried and using this as a way to discipline me?
"I accidentally soiled one of Mother's scriptures. Mother was angry, so I copied it for her. It's not a punishment!" Lanqin said. Sometimes, a white lie is more pleasant to hear than the truth and can settle things peacefully.
Fourth Master was still puzzled, but after Lanqin's explanation, he was immediately relieved.
"Let's go see Hongli!" Fourth Master said, pulling Lanqin's hand.
Lanqin nodded and took Fourth Master's hand as they headed towards Hongli!
Uya did this on purpose! She deliberately told the Fourth Prince about being punished by Consort De, hoping to arouse his suspicion! If she complained about Consort De to the Fourth Prince, it would only displease him. There's no right or wrong in matters between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law! The Fourth Prince is only human, with human flaws. If she told him about Consort De, it would only plant the impression in his mind that she and Consort De were at odds!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
